Fencing at the 2015 Newmarket Challenge

This morning I was up bright and early, heading up the 404 for the Newmarket Challenge put on by the Newmarket Fencing Club.

Today I fenced in two different categories. The first at 9am was Veteran Mixed Epee, which is for fencers 40 and older. That's me below with my epee in hand. The next one was my favorite weapon, sabre. That's me above ready to go.

Here is what we were fencing for.

Epee is a poking weapon and you can hit anywhere on the body. If both fencers hit at the same time, both receive a point. The idea is to hit your opponent without him hitting you at the same time.

I won my first match, lost the next 5-4 and then it went downhill from there. I ended the day finishing 17/18 in the Vet Open and 11/13 in the 50 and over event.

A couple of action shots. I didn't have time to take many as I had to get ready for the sabre event and was fencing in my first match when they were handing out the medals.

The tournament was well organized and everything ran on time. I'm still getting back into fencing shape and haven't practiced much so ending up 7/8 was no surprise, although I could see and improvement in my game over last weekend.

Here are some shots of the 50 plus gold medal match. Bill on the left lost to Doug on the right, but it was a well fenced match.

My best action shot of the Vet Open gold medal match. Kyle likes to step in, leap back having you miss, as he extends that long arm of his striking your wrist for the point. He got me twice like that in a five point match. Look at the bend of Paul's blade. The tip can travel at 300 km per hour. Paul on the left lost to Kyle on the right 10-9.

The medal winners. From the left, Dmitriy and Rob tied for the bronze, Paul took the silver and Kyle with his gold.

No, I didn't fence that well but fenced better than last week. It was a fun day, though, and I'll be a lot more ready for my next tournament in January.

Fencing at the 2015 Brock Open

Vince, me and Mike

Today I fenced in two tournaments at Brock University known as the Brock Open. The first was a veterans tournament for fencers 40 and over and then later in the open. The above picture was taken before the vets' tournament. All three of us used to fence for Beaches Sabre Club, so called ourselves the Beaches Bitches.

Yes, they both beat me. In fact, I never won a bout all day. That's what happens when one practices just once in awhile. That has to change.

My mess at the end of the fencing strip (piste).

A mess of fencing bags lined the hallway.

 

Mike and I could not find Vince for a picture but he showed up at the last moment!

Mike on the right takes on Bill.

Vince and Doug check each other's mask by touching it with their sabre, to ensure the touch will light up the score board.

Sabre is a fast sport.

The judge looks on. Many of the hits come down to the judge's decision.

A flying point!

We always shake at the end of the match. Here Vince beat Kyle 10-7 to win gold!

The medals.

From left to right, Kyle (silver), Vince (gold), and Bill and Doug (bronze).

I was last in the vets' and second last in the open. Yes, I need more practice but hope to do better in Newmarket next Saturday.

Fencing in the 4th Annual Toronto Open Fencing Tournament

This afternoon I fenced in two Veteran events in the Toronto Open Fencing Tournament put on by the Toronto Fencing Club, epee and my favorite weapon, sabre.

The Toronto Fencing club is a nice spacious air conditioned facility.

I have only recently took up epee and I really wasn't expecting to do very well against these experienced fencers and I was right. In the pools, I went 0-9 but was only shut out twice and lost mostly by a 5-2 score. In one match, I was winning 3-2 but lost 5-3. In the elimination round, I lost 10-2 to Mark, who has been been fencing epee for years. When all was said and done, I ended up in 10th out of 10 fencers.

The woman's epee event was before ours. I love this mask!

The judge can't even figure out what is happening here!

The right arm is a main target in Epee. Mine took a beating. The blue colour is quite surprising. It's almost Blue Jays blue! Those are sabre hits below it.

 

So how does one pass time between tournaments when they get up early to fence in three of them? Mark naps.

Then it was time for sabre. Again I didn't fence much this summer and it showed. My game came on at the end, though, and I defeated Bill in my first elimination. I have only ever beaten him once before and have lost three elimination matches to him. That win felt good, especially after I had a 5-0 lead on him in our last elimination match in Kitchener and he came back to win 10-9.

The gold medal match was between Kyle, currently ranked number one in Canada, on the left and Paul on the right, coming back from a fifteen year absence from the sport.

Some action shots ...

 

 

It was a fun match to watch. Vet matches are to 10 points and this one came down to who could take that last point as it was tied 9-9. Here Paul makes the final hit to take the gold medal.

That's Paul on the podium with the gold medal, Kyle to the left with the silver, and me and Mark coming away with the bronze.

It was a fun day and good to be back in action again. Next tournament, though, I'll be better prepared.

Canadian Men's Sabre Team at the Pan Am Games

After watching the Woman's Team Sabre competition this morning, it was time for the men's event in the afternoon. I was excited about this, not because I am a sabre fencer, but also because Mark Peros is on the Canadian team. Mark fences out of the same club as I do, and has given me plenty of good advice over the years. As Mark was the only Canadian member of the team from Toronto, he had a very strong contingent on hand cheering on every point he made. That is him in the top picture on the attack.

There were a good number of fans in attendance.

The Canadian team come into the arena, no warm up jackets required, as they were ready to go.

Canada ended the first set down 5-2, then Mark came on. See that red light. Point for Canada!

Mark on defence.

Lefty Joseph Polossifakis attacks and gets the point.

Mark Peros ask for clarification on a hit against him from the judge.

Look at the bend of Mark's blade on the left as he brings it forward to the attack. The sabre blades tip has been measured as travelling at 300 kph, the second fastest thing in the Olympics. Only a bullet is faster.

Strategy session.

Polossifakis celebrates match point.

The 45-25 victory put Canada into the semi finals against Venezuela.

I went out on the patio during the break and had a beer. It was a beautiful day.

Time for the semi-finals!

 Venezuelan fans were in full force and loud.

The introductions

Final huddle.

It was a close match. After 4 rounds Canada was up just 20-19 and going into the final round in a match to 45, were up just 40-37.

 Polossifakis celebrates his 44th point. One more to go.

After the winning hit he went for a run down the piste (fencing strip)

 The 45-40 win meant Canada would fence off against the U.S. for Gold.

It was a fun afternoon of fencing. I didn't have tickets for the medal events but hearing from fellow fencers that were there Canada fought hard but in the end were downed by the U.S. squad 45-37 and came out with a Silver medal.

Great job Mark Peros, Joseph Polossifakis and Shaul Gardon. You did Canada proud!